Motherhood. What a ride, am I right? As soon as they put that tiny 8 pound 2 oz bundle of squirmy joy on your chest after many hours of pushing (in my case), your life is forever and ever changed. With my first, I could not wait for each milestone to happen. From sleeping through the night, to having his first solid food (which wasn’t solid at all?), to his first steps. I was so excited and couldn’t wait for them to happen. Now, my 20 1/4 inch baby boy is 5 foot 10 and he just achieved another milestone, high school.
Do you remember your first day of high school? Y’all, I cannot remember what I had for dinner last night, but I remember exactly what I wore to my first day of freshman year. (Black capri length leggings, a striped tee shirt, the Steve Madden wedge slides with my Jansport backpack and butterfly clips. Hello, 1998. I see you.) I remember all of the emotions that were present as I walked into the front door of the building with the other 2,000 students. I was excited, anxious and afraid.
I didn’t realize that bravery was a prerequisite for high school, but it totally is.
In high school you learn a lot. Some of it is education-based, but so much of it is about yourself. I feel like in high school you’re starting your journey down the path of self awareness. This is a path that only you can forge. I’m so proud of my son for knowing so much about himself at such a young age. A lot about schooling, and high school specifically, has changed since the late 1900s when I attended, but so much is the same. I hope that he is able to make the right choice when faced with a tough decision. I hope he treats everyone kindly and with respect. The stakes are so much higher here.
Parenthood is full of milestones. Some are pure joy and others are bittersweet.
I’m so excited to see the man that my son is growing up to be, but I am forever grateful for the glimpses of the little boy he was. Today, as he walked towards his high school for the first time, he turned and waved. I saw him.
